IIRC the writer of the episode himself(?) declared that he wouldn't be surprised if what the probe showed Picard was a somewhat idealized version of events. Even if that sounds a little too sinister, it's reasonable to assume the probe did some customization of what Picard experienced to make it more relatable to him. There's also the fact that the experience seemed to be based around decisions Picard made, not a situation where he was a passive observer. I suppose taken to its farthest extent one might conclude that the real Kamin never even had kids, but that the probe whipped that up for our captain.
The Real Kataan from "The Inner Light"
- Thread starter polyharmonic
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Perhaps they had a contest to see which work of literature was the best representation of their culture, then created a VR holo-novel of it and sent it out.
Well, it clearly did engineer some predestined paths that he was purposefully steered down. The flute in the box seems to suggest he was always meant to play it, & that it would mean more than just a random hobby, so the likelihood of an offspring playing it too would be reasonable to factor in. The daughter who loves science could be a bit more randomly improvised, but then again, the most likely possible outcome for the probe would be that it found a space traveler, & that such a person would likely be fairly scientific. In truth, the best way to invest someone in a community of any kind is for them to have a family that will be effected by. With great care, they could have engineered much more of it than it would seem
Just because we haven't seen that tech in use by the UFP doesn't mean they don't have it. As for them not having FTL travel perhaps they were trying to devlop it but ran out of time.
I'd go with the idea that the probe showed Picard something he could relate to. If the probe had found a Klingon, it may very well have shown him something a Klingon would relate to (a more warlike people).
For all we know, the probe replicated the flute to match the Picard experience. If it was a Klingon, it would have replicated a sword from his personal experience.
If it was exactly as we saw, the Klingon would probably be pissed enough to find the planet and nuke it all over again.
For all we know, the probe replicated the flute to match the Picard experience. If it was a Klingon, it would have replicated a sword from his personal experience.
If it was exactly as we saw, the Klingon would probably be pissed enough to find the planet and nuke it all over again.
It's as bad as the original was good, plus the absolute worst artwork I've ever seen. It's rare that artwork is so bad it takes me out of a story, even if it were a good story.
Couldn't their Humanoid appearance have to do with the progenitor species who seeded the galaxy that Picard helps discover?
It's possible, sure, but the going concern in this thread is that if those people really looked that much like Humans, then how would some other non-human species have received this probe? I can't really imagine that they'd have been able to know or plan that it would be found by similar looking lifeforms. If it had been found by Andorians, the whole object falls apart... unless the Andorian who is caught up in it, sees OTHER Andorians
That's debatable. Riker says the thing gripping Picard must have been "self-terminating", apparently coming to this conclusion because it's "not functioning any longer". But that can be taken at least four ways:
1) The program was of set length and has now run its course on Picard, voluntarily releasing its grip and playing the end credits. The user can now choose "replay", "scene menu" or "extras". This would be vital information to Picard, to reassure him that the danger of hallucinations is now over.
2) The probe was set to scuttle its functions once having played the trick with one victim, and is now an inert piece of melted metal. This would be of moderate interest to Picard, who thus learns of a great disappointment to UFP science.
3) The probe was set to scuttle its functions if tampered with, and the interference by our heroes made it an inert piece of melted metal. This would be of moderate interest to Picard, who thus learns of a great disappointment to UFP science. Although Riker should probably explicitly take the blame here, and Picard would have the chance to respond "I won't put you on report for trying to save my (regular) life, Number One".
4) The probe malfunctioned and became an inert piece of melted metal, and Riker mistakes this for a scuttling charge.
This would be of moderate interest to Picard, who thus learns of a great disappointment to UFP science, and is a bit sorry for the Kataati, too.
Personally I think the first option makes the most sense. Although the probe might well be designed so that one user can only access the program once, it would appear that the program would be of the most use to the Kataati if multiple users could run it (one at a time but without any other limitation on the number of users).
Timo Saloniemi
1) The program was of set length and has now run its course on Picard, voluntarily releasing its grip and playing the end credits. The user can now choose "replay", "scene menu" or "extras". This would be vital information to Picard, to reassure him that the danger of hallucinations is now over.
2) The probe was set to scuttle its functions once having played the trick with one victim, and is now an inert piece of melted metal. This would be of moderate interest to Picard, who thus learns of a great disappointment to UFP science.
3) The probe was set to scuttle its functions if tampered with, and the interference by our heroes made it an inert piece of melted metal. This would be of moderate interest to Picard, who thus learns of a great disappointment to UFP science. Although Riker should probably explicitly take the blame here, and Picard would have the chance to respond "I won't put you on report for trying to save my (regular) life, Number One".
4) The probe malfunctioned and became an inert piece of melted metal, and Riker mistakes this for a scuttling charge.
This would be of moderate interest to Picard, who thus learns of a great disappointment to UFP science, and is a bit sorry for the Kataati, too.
Personally I think the first option makes the most sense. Although the probe might well be designed so that one user can only access the program once, it would appear that the program would be of the most use to the Kataati if multiple users could run it (one at a time but without any other limitation on the number of users).
Timo Saloniemi
Unlike previous generations that could not self terminate, the Kataan Kamikaze Probe-u-lator 5000 is FULLY self terminating.
We give it one thumb up.
It's possible to have advanced society and yet stick to a simple way of life. The ancient Chinese had incredibly advanced technology compared to Europe during the same time period, but their society advanced towards industrialization far more slowly. Beliefs about the importance of permanence vrs the importance of innovation can shape what a society does with tech.
It's also possible that the Kataan shown to Picard was at the beginning of the decline when they could still live as they always had, but far enough along to communicate the problem. The probe could actually have been launched later, by a more advanced but more strained society (say one that had had to move underground to avoid radiation from the dying star and was thus divorced from its traditions).
It's also possible that the Kataan shown to Picard was at the beginning of the decline when they could still live as they always had, but far enough along to communicate the problem. The probe could actually have been launched later, by a more advanced but more strained society (say one that had had to move underground to avoid radiation from the dying star and was thus divorced from its traditions).
"Raped"?
That seems rather an overly harsh description for what happened to him.
Speaking strictly on a technical level, Picard didn't consent to what the probe did to him, and as near as we can tell he wasn't given any sort of option for exiting the experience.
That said, and I realize this will sound creepy...if Picard was raped, so to speak, then I daresay that in the end he valued the experience.
That said, and I realize this will sound creepy...if Picard was raped, so to speak, then I daresay that in the end he valued the experience.
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